Stick with plan to beat bat

PATIENCE and persistence were among the keys to Steve Smith’s Edgbaston run-fest that put Australia in to prime Ashes-winning position.

Those elements loom as England’s way of undoing the batting superstar in the second Test at Lord’s after a concession the home team did not have the willpower to go with Smith in Birmingham.

Returning to the site of the first of his two Ashes double-centuries, he is refreshed and ready for more, according to his Australian teammates.

England captain Joe Root has also refreshed the bowling attack he will unleash, with fast bowler Jofra Archer and leftarm spinner Jack Leach to come in.

Australian coach Justin Langer said he did not “buy in” to suggestions Smith was more susceptible to left-arm spin, against which he averages 34.

But Root said it was not one type of bowling that would bring him undone, just a better capacity to stick to plans for longer, adamant the Australian was as fallible as any.

“You’re always looking at different ways how you can try to get someone out,” he said.

“I think maybe one thing that could have done slightly better, me personally as captain, was stick to a plan for a little bit longer, give it a chance to work a little bit more.

“I think it was 18 times early on in that first innings he played and missed.

“In some ways that’s a sign that plans are working. We’ve just got to be a little bit more patient with it.

“And he’s got to start again this week . . . new challenge, new wicket, different atmosphere. I think it’s very important that whatever way we decide to go we’re confident it’s going to work and back our ability to execute it well.”